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Bradford Soapbox race to show off new city centre

Charles Heslett
BBC, Yorkshire•@CharlesHeslett
Reporting fromBradford
Bradford BID A go-kart with a driver wearing a crash helmet drives along a cobbled street with spectators either side behind hay bales.Bradford BID
The Super Soapbox Challenge has been held in Bradford four times previously

A go-karting race showing off Bradford's new £43m pedestrianised city centre is set to attract some 20,000 tourists to the city over the bank holiday weekend.

Jonny Noble, chief executive of Bradford Business Improvement District (BID), hopes the Super Soapbox Challenge event on Sunday 4 May will bring record crowds to Bradford this spring.

"With the new pedestrianised areas and the new layout of the city centre, we feel it's an ideal opportunity for people to have a fantastic day - but also have a wander round," said Mr Noble, who represents 400 firms in the city.

More than 25 local businesses entered last year's race, with an estimated 15,000 spectators over the course of the day.

A pedestrianised street, with shops and restaurants on either side, leading up to a Victorian clock tower in the distance.
The route of the soapbox challenge will be changed to include newly pedestrianised areas such as Market Street

"Usually we get about 15,000 people on average; the biggest year so far was 17,000," said Mr Noble.

"Weather allowing, we're expecting - with Bradford being the UK City of Culture and the feel-good factor - to get towards the 20,000 mark this year. "

Mr Noble said the event played an important role in supporting city centre businesses, with spectators spending in shops, cafés and restaurants.

He said: "The event's held on a Sunday purposefully to drive that much-needed footfall.

He conceded "the Transforming Cities work going on last year... was quite disruptive", but suggested the newly pedestrianised city centre could make this year's event more popular than ever before .

He said the starting point for the race track would remain at the top of Kirkgate, continuing on to Bank Street. But instead of turning back along Tyrrel Street, this year it will run towards Market Street - one of the key pedestrianised thoroughfares - towards a new finishing line.

There will also be a slalom section, he added, urging any last-minute participants to sign up to the race.

"We are still welcoming karts. We've still got a few places left. Go on to the BID website and have a look on the events page," he said.

Five red and white traffic across a closed-off street with people walking across.
This year's soapbox track will run across Market Street, which has been pedestrianised

The first Soapbox Challenge was held in Bradford in 2022.

"It's great news we'll be returning to Bradford for a fourth year," said Andrew Pearson, marketing director for the event for which Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a charity partner.

"It's all about team spirit, raising money for great causes, and enjoying the excitement of the race."

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